Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced the appointment of Dickson Corbett, of Chelsea, as Orange County state’s attorney, following William Porter’s resignation. Corbett has served as deputy state’s attorney for Orange County since 2013. Prior to that, he served as a law clerk and staff attorney with the Vermont Judiciary. Corbett received a BA at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill and his JD from Vermont Law School.

Vermont Business Magazine Bennington College has earned a STARS Silver rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education.

Vermont Business Magazine Union Mutual announced today that AM Best has upgraded the rating of the Union Mutual of Vermont Companies to “A” (Excellent) with Stable Outlook. The Union Mutual of Vermont Companies consist of Union Mutual Fire Insurance Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, New England Guaranty Insurance Company, Inc as well as its mutual affiliate, Community Mutual Insurance Company.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University has announced that Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Mark A Milley will give the commencement address to the Class of 2021 in recorded remarks on Saturday, May 1. Milley was born June 20, 1958, in Winchester, Massachusetts. In 1980, he graduated from Princeton University and received his commission from the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). During his more than 40 years in uniform, Milley commanded and served in units at every echelon, from platoon leader to US Army chief of staff.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, in continued celebration of Earth Day 2021, Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Justin Maxson announced the United States Department of Agriculture is investing $12.3 million in critical infrastructure that will help the towns of Brandon, Vermont, and Northumberland, New Hampshire, build back better and stronger while prioritizing climate-smart solutions and environmental stewardship. USDA is making the investments under its Water and Environmental Programs, in addition to the $490 million national infrastructure investment announced by the Biden-Harris Administration on Earth Day.

Vermont Business Magazine On Thursday the State of Vermont received a decision from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) granting the state’s motion for USCIS to reconsider its July 3, 2018 Notice of Termination. That earlier decision terminated the Vermont Regional Center (VRC) and put the immigration status of hundreds of foreign investors in jeopardy. The state filed its motion to reconsider on October 25, 2019 following the denial of its initial administrative appeal. In granting this motion, USCIS reversed its prior decision to terminate the regional center, citing: (1) the State’s implementation of enhanced project oversight; (2) the state’s investigation and subsequent enforcement action against the Jay Peak project developers; and (3) the continued economic benefit the EB-5 projects brought to Vermont despite the Jay Peak fraud.

by Attorney General TJ Donovan As Vermont and our nation continue to work toward a more fair and equitable criminal justice system, the Vermont Legislature is considering an important bill that can provide a fresh start for thousands of Vermonters, promote public safety, and reduce incarceration. S.7 expands Vermonters’ ability to expunge old criminal records. Clearing old criminal records for Vermonters who have served their penalty and remained trouble-free for years is pro-jobs, pro-opportunity, pro-fairness, and plain common sense.

Vermont Business Magazine People's United Financial, Inc has reported results for the first quarter of 2021: Operating Earnings of $0.37 per Common Share; Common Dividend Increase for 28th Consecutive Year; Announced merger with M&T Bank Corporation, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021; Sustained excellent asset quality as evidenced by net loan charge-offs to average total loans of 12 basis points, and provision for credit losses resulting in a net benefit of $13.6 million.; Maintained strong deposit inflows as period-end balances increased $1.3 billion or three percent linked-quarter; Reached agreement with Stop & Shop on the timing of the exit from all New York in-store branch and ATM locations, which will begin in the third quarter of 2021 with a full exit occurring over four quarters.

Vermont Business Magazine Vail Resorts, Inc (NYSE: MTN) has updated its guidance range for the nine month period ending April 30, 2021. The company now expects net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc to be between $258 million and $280 million and Resort Reported EBITDA to be between $636 million and $650 million. Vail is the owner of Stowe, Mount Snow, and Okemo resorts in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine As part of Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff’s visit to Burlington Wednesday to learn about vaccination efforts, our friends and partners at the Association of Africans Living in Vermont hosted a performance about vaccines. On stage at the O.N.E. Community Center, AALV case manager and artist KeruBo and a member of the Health Department’s Health Equity Team, Ruth Baldasty, performed the original song “Chanjo” — Swahili for vaccine. After the song, they spoke with Emhoff about the importance of reaching community and helping to address misinformation through music and creative outlets. Emhoff shared his appreciation for this work and how this aligns with the nationwide efforts to expand vaccine access. The VDH is reporting 78 new cases of COVID-19 today and no new deaths, which are holding at 243. Every Vermont adult is now eligible to sign up to get vaccinated.

Vermont Business Magazine Wild leeks, also known as ramps (Allium tricoccum), are a wild edible that many Vermonters enjoy each spring. If you are foraging for them, be careful to not mistake the ramps for a poisonous lookalike plant called false hellebore. The young leaves of American false hellebore (Veratrum viride) are often mistaken for ramps. False hellebore contains poisonous chemicals called alkaloids, and eating false hellebore can make people very sick, enough to hospitalize them.

University of Vermont researchers are partnering with Vermont officials on a new $7-million program that takes a unique approach to protecting watersheds: paying farmers to reduce phosphorus pollution. The pilot program, informed by UVM research, will test a new tool—financial incentives for farm performance—to advance the state’s phosphorus reduction efforts. Until now, the focus has primarily been on inspection, enforcement, and pay-for-practice financial assistance programs.